Ontario needs win, New Plymouth playing for confidence
By Scott Ford
Argus Observer
Friday, October 24, 2008 11:17 AM PDT
Mac-Hi at Ontario
The Ontario Tigers are heading into tonight’s match-up coming off a game they felt they should have won in last Friday’s 35-14 loss to the Baker Bulldogs. That loss knocked the Tigers from the Greater Oregon League driver’s seat for another title and put them behind the eight ball with two league games left.
Tonight against Mac-Hi, the Tigers will need to be focused as they endure the rigors of Homecoming and the pressure of a must win situation.
The Pioneers are coming off a 28-6 win over La Grande last week and will be looking for the upset tonight against Ontario.
The Tiger offense is still a force to be reckoned with as it has put up 234 points this year, which is the best in the GOL. Its defense is also the best in the league, giving up 86 points.
According to Maxpreps.com, the Tigers are above the national average in many team statistical categories.
On offense, the Tigers are averaging 218.9 yards per game, compared with the national average of 173.5. The Ontario passing attack is averaging 147.6 yards a game to the national average of 103.6, for a total of 366.4 yards of offense per game, where the national average is 273.1
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers are above the national average in tackles with 76.3 to 57.6 and sacks with 4.1 a game to the national average of 1.7, but come in above the national average in points allowed with 33.4 to the national average of 25.3.
The Pioneers are sporting a 4-3 record with wins against Prescott, Wash. (13-0), Enterprise (34-0), Riverside (48-0) and La Grande (28-6).
Their losses have come against Tillamook (16-7), Umatilla (34-21) and Meridian, Wash. (42-3).
A win for the Tigers will vault them into a tie with Mac-Hi for second place in the GOL with a 1-1 record.
New Plymouth at Marsing
The New Plymouth Pilgrim football team began the 2008 campaign impressively with three straight wins against talented football teams. In the Pilgrims’ last four games, they have gone 1-3 with losses to Western Idaho Conference foes Melba, Parma and Nampa Christian.
Those losses have put the Pilgrims in a tough situation as the season winds down. If New Plymouth defeats the Huskies today, then they will be the fourth seed in the WIC and will have to battle against Melba in the district playoffs.
New Plymouth and Melba had a classic battle in their first meeting of the season with Melba pulling out the 42-35 win.
New Plymouth is coming off two losses against Parma and Nampa Christian. The Pilgrims will need an early offensive surge to build confidence as they approach the district playoff next week.
New Plymouth’s offensive has been explosive at times this season, and, at other times, has been somewhat suspect. Turnovers have been the major concern for this young team, but the dominant passing game has been able to get the Pilgrims out of trouble more than once this year.
Sophomore quarterback Brady Harris leads the Treasure Valley area schools in passing with 1,618 yards on 107-of-190 passing. Harris has been picked off 11 times this year but he has also tossed his fair share of touchdowns.
The New Plymouth brain trust made some mid-season adjustments, and it has paid off for the Pilgrims.
Against Melba, the coaches moved Kyle King to the running back slot for Jaime Garcia, who was sent to the receiver position and the dividends showed.
King has piled up 261 yards in four games with a pair of scores as the thrifty back weaves his way through defenders and still remains threat out of the back field in passing situations. In 2008, King has hauled in 16 catches for 220 yards.
Senior wideout Justin Johnson leads the team in receiving with 659 yards, while Seth Bodas has racked up 325 yards through the air.
New Plymouth will need to find more balance in its offensive attack.
Currently the Pilgrims have more than a 2-to-1 difference between rushing yards (765) and passing yards (1661) on the season.
Marsing and New Plymouth will kick off at 7 p.m. in New Plymouth.
